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A  Quiz 

on 

Our  Schools  in  Cuba 


THE  WOMAN’S  BOARD  OF  HOME  MISSIONS  OF 
THE  PRESBYTERL\N  CHURCH  IN  THE  U.  S.  A. 
One  Fifty-Six  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


A  QUIZ 

ON 

OUR  SCHOOLS  IN  CUBA 


I.  GEOGRAPHICALLY  (1-7) 

1.  Where  is  Cuba? 

In  the  language  of  the  old-time 
geographies,  Cuba  is  “bounded”  on  the 
north  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  on  the  east 
by  the  Windward  Passage  (on  the 
other  side  of  which  is  Haiti),  on  the 
south  by  the  Caribbean  Sea,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

2.  By  what  name  is  Cuba  sometimes 
called  ? 

“The  Guardian  of  the  Gates  of  the 
American  Mediterranean,”  “The  Key  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,”  “The  Sentinel  of 
the  Caribbean  Sea,”  “The  Pearl  of  the 
Antilles.” 

3.  How  is  Cuba  situated — longi¬ 
tudinally  ? 

The  easternmost  point,  Cape  Maysi, 
lies  upon  the  same  meridian  as  New 
York.  Cape  San  Antonio,  its  western 
limit,  is  on  the  line  of  Cincinnati. 

4.  How  far  is  Havana  from  New 
York? 


3 


About  1400  miles — three  days  by 
steamer  (but  eight  days  to  Santiago). 

5.  How  far  from  Florida? 

About  100  miles,  but  the  railroad  ex¬ 
tension  to  Key  West  with  ferry  connec¬ 
tions  to  Havana  shortens  the  water  jour¬ 
ney.  Travelers  may  some  day  board  a 
train  at  New  York  City  and  not  leave  it 
until  Havana  is  reached. 

6.  How  large  is  Cuba? 

Seven  hundred  and  thirty  miles  long, 
about  as  long  as  Italy.  Its  area  is  nearly 
that  of  Pennsylvania  or  Ohio. 

7.  What  is  the  climate  of  Cuba? 

To  the  Cuban,  perfect;  but  to  Ameri¬ 
cans  while  delightful,  and  for  a  time 
healthful,  a  long  stay  in  it  is  very  ener¬ 
vating;  hence  our  missionaries  to  Cuba 
need  occasional  bracings  in  the  States. 
There  is,  however,  a  great  difference  be¬ 
tween  the  lower  western  end  and  the 
mountainous  eastern  part  of  the  island. 
In  the  latter,  climatic  conditions  leave 
little  to  be  desired. 

II.  EDUCATIONALLY  (8-11) 

8.  What  educational  advantages  had 
Cuba  under  Spanish  rule? 

During  the  four  hundred  years  of 
Spanish  domination,  Cuba  had  “no  edu¬ 
cation  worthy  of  the  name.” 

9.  What  was  the  beginning  of  better 
days  for  Cuba? 


The  American  Provisional  Govern¬ 
ment  almost  immediately  began  to  es¬ 
tablish  public  schools,  equipped  with 
modern  appliances,  and  in  charge  of 
thoroughly  trained  teachers.  In  many 
ways  great  impetus  was  given  to  educa¬ 
tion. 

TO.  What  of  education  now? 

Unhappily  the  standard  set  by  the 
Provisional  Government  has  not  been 
maintained  by  the  Cuban  government. 
Only  in  'Havana  is  there  anything  like 
adequate  provision  for  public  education. 

11.  What  is  the  result  of  these  con¬ 
ditions  ? 

The  need  for  mission  schools  is  great, 
and  the  rewards  great.  There  is  de¬ 
mand  for  enlargement. 

III.  PRESBYTERIAN  MISSION  SCHOOLS 

(12-20) 

12.  Whtn  and  where  was  the  first 
Presbyterian  Mission  School  for  Cuba 
established  ? 

In  the  report  of  the  Superintendent 
of  School  Work  for  1902  occurs  this 
passage : 

“In  the  fall  of  1901,  a  new  enterprise 
was  started  in  Havana,  with  a  single 
teacher  in  charge.  The  interest  centered 
in  this  little  school  of  fifty-seven  pupils 
is  one  of  the  marvels  in  the  capital  city 
of  this  young  republic.  News  of  the 
opening  of  this  school  has  gone  into 


many  towns  and  communities  surround¬ 
ing  Havana,  and  from  them  have  come 
earnest,  urgent  appeals  to  the  Woman’s 
Board  of  Home  Missions  for  similar 
schools — appeals  which,  indeed,  it  is  im¬ 
possible  to  ignore.  They  seem  like  the 
cries  of  the  despairing,  aroused  again 
to  hope  by  what  they  hear  and  see.” 
The  school  at  Havana  was  continued 
until  1910,  when,  owing  to  changed  con¬ 
ditions,  it  was  closed. 

13.  In  what  other  places  in  Cuba 
have  schools  been  established? 

The  first  extension  of  the  work  was 
the  opening  of  a  school  at  Guines,  forty 
miles  southeast  from  Havana.  Guines 
has  a  population  of  9,(X)o. 

Since  the  school  was  established  the 
number  of  pupils  has  doubled,  the  latest 
report  giving  one  hundred  and  twelve 
as  the  number  enrolled.  Four  teachers 
are  in  charge.  The  Sunday  School  has 
an  attendance  of  one  hundred  and  eight. 

14.  Where  is  Sancti  Spiritus? 

Two  hundred  miles  to  the  southeast 
of  Havana  is  the  old,  old  city  of  Sancti 
Spiritus,  in  the  Province  of  Santa  Clara, 
founded  in  1514,  and  having  now  a 
population  of  12,000.  Two  out  of  seven 
ancient  churches  (Roman  Catholic)  re¬ 
main.  One  of  them — the  oldest  on  the 
island — was  built  in  the  year  1604. 

15.  When  was  our  school  at  Sancti 
Spiritus  opened? 


6 


In  1903,  with  twenty-four  pupils.  The 
Report  for  1910  places  the  number  at 
one  hundred  and  twenty-three.  These 
boys  and  girls  are  bright  and  lovable, 
and  very  eager  to  obtain  a  thorough  edu¬ 
cation. 

16.  How  old  is  our  school  at  Nueva 
Paz? 

The  school  here  was  opened  in  1904. 
The  enrollment  of  pupils  in  1910  was 
one  hundred  and  twelve. 

17.  What  is  the  most  important 
study  in  our  Cuban  schools? 

In  all  our  schools  the  Bible  is  given 
the  first  place.  Especially  is  this  so  in 
Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  since  there  the 
ignorance  of  it  is  so  great. 

The  Bible  is  also'  the  most  fascinating 
of  all  studies  to  young  and  old. 

1 8.  Name  our  present  schools  in 
Cuba. 

Guines,  Sancti  Spiritus,  and  Nueva 
Paz. 

19.  What  is  the  total  enrollment  in 
our  Cuban  schools? 

Four  hundred  pupils,  and  fourteen 
missionary  teachers. 

20.  How  many  pupils  in  the  Sunday 
Schools  connected  with  the  day  schools? 

Two  hundred  and  forty-five. 


7 

No.  437— 1st  Ed.— 4, 1911.  Price,  3c.  per  copy,  $2.50  per  100 


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